Guinness Study Proves Dark Beer Could Actually Be Good For You

Flickr/Federico Zanone/CC BY

St. Patrick’s Day is upon on us and that means it’s time to plan your Irish-inspired festivities for the weekend. Lots of things come to mind when you think of the beloved cultural celebration on March 17,  like proudly wearing the color green, four-leaf clovers, Irish folk songs, colcannon and Guinness. Guinness, a stout-style brew, usually gets misjudged for its heavy, dark and creamy disposition.  In 1929 the ad agency SH Benson came up with the slogan “Guinness is good for you” and over 80 years later, scientific research by the University of Wisconsin actually shows a pint of Guinness a day is good for your health.

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The study’s main author, John Folts — who is a professor of medicine and a nutritional director at the University of Wisconsin — says, “Guinness proved to be about twice as effective at preventing the blood platelets from clumping and forming the kind of clot that can cause a heart attack.” Flavonoids, which are the antioxidants that give Guinness its dark color and also work to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, are the reason this heavy beer can prevent blood clots and reduce your risk of heart attack.

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Contrary to what you may think, Guinness has a lower ABV than other typical draughts like Budweiser and Sam Adams, between 4.1 to 4.3%, which translates into fewer calories. Aside from this caramel-and-coffee-accented beer proving to be beneficial to your heart, it’s also vegan-friendly, filling (can be a meal substitute if necessary), festive for St. Paddy’s Day and it’ll step up your drinking game (giving the illusion you don’t make basic beer choices).

You should give this classic Irish beer some love on St. Patrick’s Day, and maybe the rest of the year, but remember, everything in moderation.